JP2010256425A - Karaoke device for automatically changing key, when person sings whose gender is different from original singer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly change a performance key which is unexpectedly difficult for coping with gender vocal register difference, on the basis of simple operation at a request stage before singing, without concerning about the performance key, even by a user who is a beginner with little knowledge about operation of the karaoke device and the performance key. <P>SOLUTION: A musical piece ID, a karaoke data, a gender of an original singer and a default key value are related and stored, and the gender of a singing schedule person is input upon request reservation. When the gender is input, the performance key of the musical piece is changed by a predetermined value in a key change rule, on the basis of the prescribed key change rule specified by the gender of the original singer of the performance musical piece, and the gender of the singing schedule person, when performance of the request is processed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a karaoke apparatus that automatically changes a key when a person of a different gender from the original singer sings, and in particular, a singer can easily give an instruction to change the key according to gender when requesting a karaoke performance. It is related with the made karaoke apparatus.

  A general karaoke apparatus has a key control function. Various techniques have been developed that use this function to variably set performance keys (pitch) of karaoke accompaniment music to match the vocal range of the singer who is the karaoke user.

  For example, the karaoke device of Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent No. 2797648) detects a vocal range of a test utterance of a predetermined sound uttered by a singer toward a microphone prior to singing, and based on this detection, Automatically adjust key settings to match the vocal range.

  Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent No. 3587796) describes a karaoke apparatus in which performance key settings for karaoke accompaniment music can be changed stepwise and in different directions by an up / down operation on a remote controller or main unit.

  The karaoke device of Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent No. 3706386) allows the user to set the key height of the selected song at the stage before the song is played or while the song is being played. It is equipped with a key control device that can be adjusted to a height that matches the voice range.

  Patent Document 4 (Japanese Patent No. 3842231) describes a karaoke remote control device with an electronic table of contents function that transmits a remote control signal for reserving a karaoke song to be played with an arbitrary performance key.

  In Patent Document 5 (Patent No. 397948), each person inputs voice or adjusts the sound range to his own mobile phone, and when using karaoke to make a performance reservation, A technique is disclosed in which keys are automatically set so that a person can easily sing.

  Patent Document 6 (Patent No. 4180548) has a function of measuring and announcing the vocal range of a singer singing along with karaoke music, so that the singer can grasp his / her own vocal range and set the key to an optimum value. A karaoke device that can be used is described.

Japanese Patent No. 2797648 Japanese Patent No. 3587796 Japanese Patent No. 3706386 Japanese Patent No. 3842231 Japanese Patent No. 397948 Japanese Patent No. 4180548

  In general, professional singers who are trained in vocalization sing in a much higher vocal range than amateurs. Many songs sung in karaoke range from the original key to the high range beyond the range that amateurs can easily sing. It can be said that it is a professional singer that sings with ease and emotion in the high pitch range that an amateur can somehow utter.

  For this reason, the key of music played at karaoke is often lower than the original music key by default. Recently, there has been an increasing tendency for the default key of karaoke music to be the same as that of the original music key, taking into account the wishes of heavy users of karaoke.

  In any case, when you sing a song that you are not used to singing in karaoke, it is safe to lower the performance key. This is a common sense for people who are used to karaoke.

  The above is true when a man sings an original song sung by a male singer and when a woman sings an original song sung by a female singer. It is not uncommon for women to sing an original song sung by a male singer or a man sing an original song sung by a female singer at a typical karaoke site. For example, it is a scene that elderly people often encounter when singing old melody.

  Here, consider a scene where a man sings an original song sung by a female singer. A man who wants to sing, or a friend who assists in karaoke operation when the man sings, knows the common sense of using karaoke that it is easier to sing if the performance key is lowered. The song we are going to sing is a song sung by a female singer, so the range is too high for a man to sing. Therefore, the performance key must be lowered more than the male singer's song. In reality, there are many people who perform the key-down operation in this way. Many people lower the karaoke performance key by 4 to 6 semitones than the default key.

  Such an operation is often inappropriate. When a man sings an original song sung by a female singer, the song is sung by an octave lower than when a woman sings. Nevertheless, lowering the karaoke performance key by 4 to 6 semitones than the default key not only makes it difficult for men to sing but also completely loses the taste of the music.

  An appropriate operation in this case is to raise the karaoke performance key by 2 to 4 semitones from the default key. So if a man sings in an octave lower, it will be easier for men to sing and the music will not lose much.

  The situation is different when a woman sings an original song sung by a male singer. When a woman sings an original song sung by a male singer, it is often sung by a voice one octave higher than when a man sings. However, since the vocal range of professional male singers is quite high, it is extremely difficult for a woman to sing with a high voice one octave above the default key of karaoke. If you want to sing with a female voice one octave higher, it is better to lower the karaoke performance key by 3 to 5 semitones than the default key, so that you can sing easily and not lose the taste of the song.

 Even so, there are many people who misunderstand prejudice and change the karaoke performance key higher than the default key because a woman with a high vocal range sings a song of a male with a low vocal range. In this case, you sing with a voice one octave higher or sing with the original octave, which is strange and you cannot sing comfortably.

  As mentioned above, when you sing at karaoke, if you have a solid knowledge of the original song key of the song you want to sing, the default key in the song's karaoke, and your voice range, and know how to change the key of the karaoke , You can make the song you want to sing karaoke with your own key. However, there are many people who enjoy karaoke who are not interested in these things and do not know about changing the keys to make it easier to sing. In particular, the elderly may not even come up with the concept of a performance key.

  The object of the present invention is that elderly people and beginners who are unfamiliar with the handling of the karaoke apparatus and are not familiar with the performance keys have little musical knowledge, even without being aware of the change operation of the karaoke performance keys. Another object of the present invention is to provide a karaoke apparatus in which an accurate change of a performance key is automatically performed based on a very simple operation at a request stage before singing.

The karaoke apparatus according to the present invention is specified by the following items (11) to (18).
(11) The karaoke apparatus is provided with a storage means, a request reception means, and a performance control means. (12) The storage means collects correspondences between music IDs, karaoke data, original singer genders, and default key values. (13) The key change rule includes the first rule and the second rule. (14) The first rule is that the original singer is male and the singer is female. (15) The second rule is how much from the default key value if the original singer is a female and the intended singer is a male. (16) The request acceptance means prompts the user to enter the gender of the prospective singer when the music to be reserved is specified by the user, and the gender is entered and reserved. Instruction input If there is a gender, the music ID is registered in the queue, and if the reservation instruction is input without the gender being input, the music ID is registered in the queue. (17) The performance control means registers the queue When performing a karaoke performance based on the karaoke data of the music ID that has been set, if a gender singing gender different from the original singer gender of the music ID is attached to the music ID of the queue, a key change process is performed. Otherwise, the karaoke performance is performed at a pitch according to the default key value of the music ID. (18) The key change process is performed on the original music singer gender of the music ID and the music ID of the queue. The first rule or the second rule is applied based on the attached singing person gender, and the karaoke performance is performed with the pitch of the key changed based on the rule and the default key value of the music ID. Rukoto

  The karaoke apparatus according to the present invention is specified by the following items (21) to (29).

(21) It is a karaoke apparatus provided with a storage means, a request reception means, and a performance control means. (22) The storage means collects correspondences between music IDs, karaoke data, original singer IDs, and default key values. In addition, the gender table and the key change rule are stored. (23) The gender table aggregates the association between the original singer ID and the gender. (24) The key change rule includes the first rule and the second rule. (25) The first rule stipulates how much the key is changed from the default key value when the original singer is male and the intended singer is female. (26) The second rule is: If the original singer is a female and the singer is a male, specify how much the key will be changed from the default key value. specific When prompted, enter the gender of the person scheduled to sing, and if a gender is entered and a reservation instruction is entered, the song ID is registered in the queue along with the gender, and a reservation instruction is entered without gender being entered. (28) When the performance control means performs the karaoke performance based on the karaoke data of the music ID registered in the queue, the original music singer of the music ID is registered. The gender corresponding to the ID is discriminated from the gender table, and a key change process is performed when a gender singing gender different from the original singer gender of the music is attached to the music ID of the queue, otherwise Performing karaoke performance at a pitch according to the default key value of the song ID (29) The key change process is performed by the original song singer gender of the song and the sung person who was attached to the song ID of the queue Applying the first rule or the second rule based on a separate, possible to perform a karaoke performance in pitch of the key that is changed based on the default key value of the rules and the music ID

  Even beginners who are unfamiliar with the handling of karaoke equipment and do not care about the performance key, the user can change the performance key unexpectedly difficult to overcome the difference in gender range between men and women Even if you are not conscious of it, it can be performed accurately based on a very simple operation at the request stage before singing.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the whole karaoke apparatus which comprises one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the structure and operation | movement of the part regarding the request reception process in the karaoke apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the structure and operation | movement of the part regarding the key setting and performance control in the karaoke apparatus which concerns on this invention.

=== General configuration of the entire karaoke apparatus ===
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the karaoke apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is a computer application device equivalent to a well-known personal computer, and the central processing unit 11 forming the core of the karaoke apparatus includes a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM. Form.

  Under the control and management of the central processing unit 11, a hard disk device 12 as a large-capacity external storage, an optical disk playback device 13 such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM, and a communication line such as an optical communication line communicate with the karaoke host device. A communication control device 14, a user interface device 15 for exchanging input from the user and a response to the user, a music generation device 16 for generating an acoustic signal of accompaniment music based on MIDI music performance data, An acoustic device 17 that amplifies accompaniment music and an acoustic signal from a microphone 171 and generates sound from a speaker 172, a display 18 using an LCD or a PDP, and a video processing device 19 that processes video data to be displayed on the display 18 is set up.

  The hard disk device 12 stores karaoke data including accompaniment music data mainly composed of MIDI data and lyric character data (lyric subtitle data) that is a generation origin of the lyric image for a large number of karaoke songs.

  In addition, for the long-format video data in a predetermined format, script data that defines the video data processing sequence (storage location and processing order of video data to be processed, etc.) Table of contents information such as the announcement year and the singing part of the lyrics is stored in association with the music ID.

  In this embodiment, the music ID is composed of 6-digit numbers, and the upper 4 digits are the original music singer ID. The table of contents information may include the gender information of the original singer, but may not include it. In other words, the gender information of the original singer may be attached to the karaoke data of each song, but separately from this, a gender table in which the association between the original singer ID and gender may be installed. If this gender table is used, gender information of the original singer can be obtained immediately even if existing karaoke data resources that do not include gender information of the original singer are used as they are. At the same time, in the karaoke database of the karaoke apparatus according to the present invention, the correspondence between the song ID, karaoke data, the gender of the original singer, and the default key value is collected. The hard disk device 12 stores a key change rule, which will be described later, as a characteristic configuration of the present invention.

  The music generation device 16 generates accompaniment music from the accompaniment music data in the karaoke data. As for the lyric character data, the lyric image in which the portion to be sung is changed in color in synchronization with the accompaniment music is successively developed in the video RAM as a bitmap. Also, predetermined moving image data is sequentially transferred to the video processing device 19 in a predetermined order based on the script data, and the background moving image of the lyrics image is decoded. Further, the music generating device 16 has a transposing performance function for variably controlling the keys of accompaniment music in accordance with a predetermined key change rule (described later) under the control of the central processing unit 11.

  The acoustic device 17 includes a mixing amplifier, and mixes and amplifies the accompaniment music generated by the music generation device 16 and the singing voice input from the microphone 171 and outputs the sound from the speaker 172.

  The video processing device 19 superimposes the lyrics image on the decoded moving image and displays it on the display 18. Lyric images are created sequentially from time-series lyric character data synchronized with the progress of accompaniment music.

  The user interface device 15 includes an operation panel 151 of the karaoke device main body and a karaoke remote control device 152, and includes short-range wireless communication means (IrDA transceiver, infrared LED, infrared light receiving element) capable of bidirectional communication. . The operation panel 151 and the karaoke remote control device 152, which are operation input units, are accompanied by a display unit for performing a guide display for operation support. The operation panel 151 of the apparatus main body includes a display 18 as its display unit. Can be used. When a request for karaoke performance is reserved by the operation input unit, a predetermined operation support is performed. When a music piece is specified by the request reservation operation, an operation support for prompting the user to input the gender of the scheduled person is also performed.

The central processing unit 11 identifies the karaoke data, script data, and table of contents information of each song by the song ID, and manages this as a karaoke database.
The central processing unit 11 receives a reservation command (request) from the user interface device 15. The reservation command includes a music ID (music identification code). When this reservation command is received, the music IDs included in the command are registered at the end of the processing reservation queue in the order of reception. And music ID is taken out sequentially from the head of a queue.

  When the music ID is taken out from the queue, the karaoke data for the corresponding music is taken out from the karaoke database and used for performance processing. At this time, if the gender ID of the person who is scheduled to sing is attached to the song ID, the performance key is variably controlled according to a predetermined key change rule (described later).

=== Request reception processing ===
In the karaoke device according to the present invention, when receiving a request from the operation input unit (operation panel 151 or karaoke remote control device 152), as shown in FIG. Operational support that prompts the user to input their gender.

 Specifically, the touch panel display of the karaoke remote control device 152 is touched when a performance reservation is made on a screen on which detailed information (song name / artist name / lyricist / composer) of a song selected by the user is displayed. In addition to displaying the “Transfer Button”, you can also display a “Women Button” with the guidance that “This song is a male song, but if a woman sings, please touch the female button” , “This song is a female song, but if a male sings, please touch the male button” and a “male button” are displayed. That is, in this embodiment, the content of the guidance for inquiring about the gender of the singer is changed according to the gender of the original singer of the selected song, thereby making the user interface easier to understand.

 In this way, by using a touch panel display and an easy-to-understand user interface that anyone can understand, it is possible to make an inquiry about the gender of a person who is singing to a person who is requesting a song. Even so, it is possible to input immediately without hesitation.

  This gender input is not an essential requirement for the request, and performance reservation support is possible at the stage of specifying the music regardless of gender input. In other words, when the music to be reserved for performance is specified by the user, if the gender is input and the reservation instruction is input, the music ID is registered in the queue together with the gender, but the reservation is made without inputting the gender. When there is an instruction input, the music ID without its gender is registered in the queue.

  Therefore, even if the user forgets to input the gender or only the gender input is avoided, the request operation never stops, and the request can be progressed without delay.

=== Key setting and performance control ===
In the karaoke apparatus according to the present invention, when performing karaoke performance based on the karaoke data of the music ID registered in the queue, as shown in FIG. 3, the singer's gender different from the original singer gender of the music ID Is attached to the music ID in the queue, the key change process is performed. Otherwise, the karaoke performance is performed at a pitch according to the default key value of the music ID.

  The key change process is performed according to a predetermined key change rule. This key change rule includes a first rule and a second rule. The first rule stipulates how much the key is changed from the default key value when the original singer is male and the singer is female. As a specific example, it is defined that 3 to 5 semitones are lowered. The second rule prescribes how much the key is changed from the default key value when the original singer is a female and the singer is a male. As a specific example, it is defined that 2 to 4 semitones are raised.

  In the performance processing of the song ID called from the head of the queue, the gender corresponding to the original song singer ID of the song ID is discriminated, and the scheduled song gender different from the original song singer gender of the song is set as the song ID. If it is attached, the key change process is performed, and if not, the karaoke performance is performed at a pitch according to the default key value of the music ID.

  The determination of the sex of the original singer is made from the karaoke data when gender information is attached to the karaoke data associated with the music ID. Further, when a gender table is prepared in which the association between the original singer ID and gender is stored, it is determined from the gender table.

  The first rule or the second rule is applied based on the original singer gender of the song and the scheduled singing gender attached to the song ID, and based on the rule and the default key value of the song ID Perform karaoke performance with the changed key pitch.

  This makes it possible to reliably overcome the difficulty of singing due to the difference in the vocal range of men and women without having to perform difficult operation key setting operations that are difficult for beginners and without being particularly conscious of the performance keys. it can. An operation for that purpose can be performed very easily and accurately even by an elderly person or a beginner who is unfamiliar with the handling of the karaoke apparatus, only by inputting the sex of a very simple singer.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Central processing unit 12 Hard disk device 13 Optical disk reproducing device 14 Communication control device 15 User interface device 151 Operation panel 152 Karaoke remote control device 16 Music generating device 17 Audio device 171 Microphone 172 Speaker 18 Display 19 Video processing device

Claims (2)

A karaoke apparatus comprising storage means, request reception means, and performance control means,
The storage means aggregates the correspondence between the song ID, karaoke data, the gender of the original song and the default key value, and stores the key change rule.
The key change rule includes a first rule and a second rule,
The first rule stipulates how much the key is changed from the default key value when the original singer is male and the intended singer is female.
The second rule stipulates how much the key is changed from the default key value when the original singer is female and the intended singer is male.
The request reception means prompts the user to input the gender of the prospective singer when the music to be reserved for performance is specified by the user, and if the gender is input and the reservation instruction is input, the music ID together with the gender Is registered in the queue, and if there is a reservation instruction input without gender input, the music ID is registered in the queue,
When the performance control means performs the karaoke performance based on the karaoke data of the music ID registered in the queue, the scheduled song gender different from the original singer gender of the music ID is attached to the music ID of the queue. If so, the key change process is performed. If not, the karaoke performance is performed at a pitch according to the default key value of the music ID.
The key change process applies the first rule or the second rule based on the gender ID of the original song singer and the gender ID of the song scheduled to be attached to the song ID in the queue. A karaoke device that performs karaoke performance with the pitch of the key changed based on the default key value of the ID. A karaoke apparatus comprising storage means, request reception means, and performance control means,
The storage means aggregates the associations between the song ID, karaoke data, original song singer ID, and default key value, and stores a gender table and a key change rule.
The gender table aggregates the association between the original song singer ID and gender,
The key change rule includes a first rule and a second rule,
The first rule stipulates how much the key is changed from the default key value when the original singer is male and the intended singer is female.
The second rule stipulates how much the key is changed from the default key value when the original singer is female and the intended singer is male.
The request reception means prompts the user to input the gender of the prospective singer when the music to be reserved for performance is specified by the user, and if the gender is input and the reservation instruction is input, the music ID together with the gender Is registered in the queue, and if there is a reservation instruction input without gender input, the music ID is registered in the queue,
When performing the karaoke performance based on the karaoke data of the music ID registered in the queue, the performance control means determines the gender corresponding to the original singer ID of the music ID from the gender table, and the original music of the music Performs key change processing when a scheduled singing gender different from the singer gender is attached to the corresponding music ID in the queue, otherwise performs a karaoke performance at a pitch according to the default key value of the music ID. Let
The key change process applies the first rule or the second rule based on the original singer gender of the music and the scheduled singing gender attached to the music ID of the queue, and the rule and the music ID. Karaoke device that performs karaoke performance with the key pitch changed based on the default key value.

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